A Review of the Literature on Three Types of Disenfranchised Grief ...

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disenfranchised grief situation falls into Doka's first category-<strong>the</strong> relationship is not recognized as being significant. Grief <strong>of</strong> birthmo<strong>the</strong>rs following adoption. Women who relinquish a child for adoption generally experience intense grief over <strong>the</strong> loss <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir baby (Aloi, 2009; Askren & Bloom, 1999; Blanton & Deschner, 1990; De Simone, 1996; Henney, Ayers-Lopez, McRoy, & Grotevant, 2007; Lauderdale & Boyle, 1994; Logan, 1996). Health care pr<strong>of</strong>essionals and society in general tend to minimize <strong>the</strong> seriousness <strong>of</strong> this loss situation; it is <strong>of</strong>ten assumed that since <strong>the</strong> child did not die, and since <strong>the</strong> relinquishment is voluntary, birthmo<strong>the</strong>rs do not grieve. Intensified feelings <strong>of</strong> sadness, anger, loneliness, embarrassment, depression, and regret are common in disenfranchised birth mo<strong>the</strong>rs. As with o<strong>the</strong>r types <strong>of</strong> disenfranchised grievers, relinquishing birthmo<strong>the</strong>rs are denied <strong>the</strong> opportunity to express <strong>the</strong>se emotions and are <strong>of</strong>fered minimal social support. The general lack <strong>of</strong> acknowledgement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir grief can also contribute to feelings <strong>of</strong> embarrassment and shame. This disenfranchised grief situation falls into Doka's second category-<strong>the</strong> loss is not acknowledged as being significant. Grief <strong>of</strong> ex-spouses. While a spouse's grief is widely recognized, it is <strong>of</strong>ten assumed that divorced individuals will not experience grief over <strong>the</strong> death <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir ex-spouse (Doka, 2002). Doka (2002) emphasized that although divorce ends a marriage, it does not necessarily end <strong>the</strong> relationship. Many ex-spouses maintain continued mutual contact with in-laws and shared children, and have ongoing economic ties such as child support or joint property. Ex-spouses may also have continuing emotional ties including strong ambivalent feelings toward one ano<strong>the</strong>r or hopes <strong>of</strong> possible reconciliation. Available research suggests that divorced individuals do in fact experience grief reactions over <strong>the</strong> death <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir ex-spouse (Doka, 1986; Scott, 2000). However because <strong>the</strong> ex-spouse relationship is not recognized as being significant, <strong>the</strong>se grievers 12
eport feeling as if <strong>the</strong>ir grief is unrecognized by o<strong>the</strong>rs, feeling confused about <strong>the</strong>ir ambiguous mourning role, and experiencing a general lack <strong>of</strong> social support (Doka, 2002). This disenfranchised grief situation falls into Doka's first category-<strong>the</strong> relationship is not recognized as being significant. Limitations <strong>of</strong> current research, implications for future research, and implications for practice are also included in this review. The literature search conducted for this paper covers 1975, <strong>the</strong> year <strong>the</strong> first article acknowledging <strong>the</strong> challenges <strong>of</strong> grandparent bereavement was published, to <strong>the</strong> present. 13
Page 2 and 3: Author: Davidson, Hannah M. The Gra
Page 4 and 5: The Graduate School University <str
Page 6 and 7: Chapter I: Introduction There are c
Page 8 and 9: 2. Loss not acknowledged: losses ar
Page 10 and 11: among the emotions
Page 14 and 15: Introduction to Grandparent Grief C
Page 16 and 17: Another important
Page 18 and 19: socially defined roles, rituals, an
Page 20 and 21: coined, Gyulay seemed to have recog
Page 22 and 23: contribute to feelings of</
Page 24 and 25: of worse because y
Page 26 and 27: onding with their
Page 28 and 29: Introduction to Grief of</s
Page 30 and 31: Doka (1986) found that the<
Page 32 and 33: Many bereaved ex-spouses repOli fee
Page 34 and 35: participants had attended t
Page 36 and 37: McRoy, Grotevant, & Bryant, 1997).
Page 38 and 39: papers like Aloi's, as well as empi
Page 40 and 41: References Aloi, 1.A. (2009). Nursi
Page 42 and 43: Hyrkas, K., Kaunonen, M., & Paunone

A Review of the Literature on Three Types of Disenfranchised Grief ...

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